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2000 Benedetto Fratello

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Serial#: N12000, Bob Benedetto hand signed label

Body size at lower bout: 17" Body Depth: 3" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 3/4"

Finish: Honey blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain European spruce top; handcarved fiddleback flame European maple back and sides; two piece Bigleaf tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo; ebony truss rod cover; 7-ply body binding; 5-ply neck and headstock binding; triple bound f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Solid ebony hardware includes tailpiece, finger rest, volume knob and compensated adjustable bridge; gold Schaller tuners with ebony keys.

Notes: He wrote the book on archtop guitar building. Literally. The most influential jazz guitar builder of the late 20th century, Bob Benedetto almost single-handedly jump-started the contemporary revival of fine handbuilt archtop guitars, and his client roster is an A-list of the topmost echelon of jazz guitar talent. Many of Benedetto's design concepts have been adopted as benchmarks, and an entire generation of today's top-tier builders count themselves as students or disciples.

Described by Bob as the benchmark of his acoustic archtops, this Fratello is a full-depth X-braced instrument, with superbly bookmatched deep fiddleback flame in the back and sides. The soundboard is hand carved from fine grained European spruce, deeply interwoven with crossgrain silk. The neck is carved from a single piece of dramatically flamed tiger maple, after the style of John D'Angelico.

The instrument has been maintained in showroom condition, with the handsome ambered blond finish free of playwear or checking. Aside from a tiny buckle nick in the back, the guitar appears otherwise virtually unplayed. The medium jumbo fretwork is impeccable, and the gentle, slightly flattened D profile neck sits effortlessly in the hand, with smooth, low action over a fresh high precision setup on the 1 3/4" solid ebony fingerboard. The voice is warm, rich and focused, and the tap-tuned soundboard sings with a clear, detailed acoustic voice, transmitted faithfully through the floating S-6 humbucking pickup.

Bob's Flagship Series guitars are made to order, one at a time, and the wait list can be lengthy indeed, with an over $20K price tag at this writing. A rare opportunity to jump the queue, and bag a bargain in the process. One only, all now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original deluxe arched Benedetto plush hardshell case.